RESTORING MILLER GRADE SCHOOL: Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future

RESTORING MILLER GRADE SCHOOL:

Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future

In every community, there are places that hold more than bricks and mortar—they hold memory, identity, and hope. For Atlanta, Texas, one such place is the Atlanta-Miller Grade School.

Built in 1936 during the Works Progress Administration era, Miller Grade School was more than just a schoolhouse. For nearly four decades, it welcomed Atlanta’s children, provided space for dedicated teachers, and became a hub of community life. With its six classrooms, auditorium, and offices, the school was both practical and full of promise. It shaped generations of students and stood as a proud symbol of progress and opportunity.

But, like too many historic structures, time and neglect nearly erased it from our landscape. After the school closed in the 1970s, it served briefly as a community center before falling into disrepair. By the early 2000s, severe water damage and neglect had left it teetering on the edge of demolition.

Then something remarkable happened. Former students, most notably Texas Historic Commission Trustee Jane Cook Barnhill, along with her classmates, neighbors, and preservation-minded citizens stepped forward. Refusing to let this piece of Atlanta’s history be lost, they formed Atlanta Grade School Friends. Through volunteer labor, fundraising, and sheer determination, they stabilized the building and began the long journey of restoration. Today, thanks to their work and community support, the Miller Grade School is no longer on Texas’s “Most Endangered Places” list. In fact, the project was recognized with the 2023 Preservation Texas Honor Award—proof of what can happen when a community rallies around its history.

But make no mistake—the Miller Grade School is not being saved only for those who once walked its halls. Its restoration is about the future as much as the past. Plans are underway to repurpose the building as a community learning space, ensuring that the school will once again serve as a gathering place, this time for new generations. Its strong foundation has been rebuilt so that it can continue building our community’s future.

Cass County is blessed with a wealth of historic treasures: the oldest courthouse in Texas, the Rosenwald School in Linden, and the Macedonia Rock School, which is soon to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Miller Grade School joins these landmarks as a vital part of our story. Preserving them isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about fostering pride, creating opportunities for education and tourism, and leaving behind something of value for our children and grandchildren.

As this project nears completion, continued community support will be critical. The next phase will require fundraising and volunteer involvement. This is where we all have a part to play. By giving of our time, talents, and resources, we ensure that Miller Grade School not only survives, but thrives as a cornerstone of community life for decades to come.

Cass County has a rich heritage and a bright future. Let’s work together to make sure that future is built on the solid foundation of our shared past.

R. Travis Ransom Cass County Judge

CASS COUNTY PIONEER PROFILE

This week’s Cass County Pioneer is a beloved athlete. Louis Franklin “Bear” Allday was born in Atlanta, Texas on July 22, 1904. Allday excelled at football from a young age and played the position of running back for the Atlanta High School Wolves. When the Wolves became the Rabbits, Allday became the Rabbits’ first Team Captain.

After high school graduation, Allday chose Centenary College for his next venture, where he led the team to an undefeated season. Allday was also a talented baseball player. After college, he was a second baseman in the AA minors, in the Texas League. He played for the Abilene Aces in 1929. That season, he demonstrated notable offensive skills, recording eighty-six hits, sixteen doubles, six triples, and five home runs. These statistics placed him among the team’s leaders in several categories and highlighted his contributions to the Aces’ lineup.

After 1929, Allday hung up his cleats and returned to Atlanta, Texas. There, he became a prominent businessman and beloved member of the community. Allday was a charter member of the Atlanta Lions Club in 1940. Atlanta’s Allday street was named in honor of his many contributions to the local community. He was also inducted into the Atlanta High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Louis F. “Bear” Allday died January 10, 1984. His grave is located in Pine Crest Cemetery in Atlanta.

Cass County Pioneer Profile by: Misty Golden - Texas A&M-Texarkana Grad Student

Cass County Property Fraud Alert Program Property Fraud Alert Program notifies Cass County landowners whenever a lien or other transaction is filed in Cass County with their name. Notifications can be sent via text and email. Click the button to sign up. It’s free!

Jobs in and Around Cass County Dispatcher - (Linden) - Cass County Sheriff ’s Office - receives calls for assistance; relays information to direct first responders; provides instructions to/from remote units. Records and logs calls received, monitors radios and maintains contact with operating units.

City Administrator (Linden) - Are you a municipal leader looking for your first opportunity as a City Administrator, or are you experienced and ready for the hometown feel of of rural east Texas? If so, apply to be Linden’s next City Administrator/ EDC Director.

Therapist II - A Days - Community Healthcore in Atlanta - LPHA performs clinical activities including independent assessments and service interventions as directed by the treatment plan and/or identified patient needs.

Registered Nurse - Community Healthcore in Atlanta - Responsible for utilizing the nursing process to meet the needs of patients in the Rapid Crisis Stabilization Unit (RCSU) Licensed Vocational Nurse - Community Healthcore in Atlanta - Serves as member of Rapid Crisis Stabilization Unit treatment team. The LVN is responsible for using the nursing process to meet the needs of clients according to the professional standards of nursing care.

Mental Health Specialist - Part of a disciplinary team and will work cooperatively with other members of the team to provide services to designated clients on the Crisis Residential and Extended Observation Units.

Part Time 911 Public Education Tech - The Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) is now accepting applications for part time 9-1-1 Public Education Technician in the Texarkana, Texas, 9-1-1 Department. The position assists the 9-1-1 Program Coordinator in the implementation, calendar development, and presentations of 9-1-1 Public Education in reference to 9-1-1 public use and existing and new service offerings.

T-Line Driver - Ark-Tex Council of Governments - Pay is $15.45/hour. This position is responsible for providing transportation services to all individuals, including persons with disabilities, in a safe and timely manner. This position must operate and maintain the T-Line vehicles.

TRAX Driver - Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) is accepting applications for an as-needed TRAX Driver; filling in when drivers are absent. Position is responsible for providing transportation services to individuals, including persons with disabilities, in a safe and timely manner and operating and maintaining the TRAX vehicles.